Winnfield, Louisiana - Former Governor John Bel Edwards was inducted into the prestigious Louisiana Political Hall of Fame as part of its 2024 class in an event held yesterday. The recognition came as a testament to Edwards' two-term tenure marked by significant achievements and service to the state.
Shonna Moss, Director of the Louisiana Political Museum, emphasized Edwards' dedication to political service, citing his notable contributions. "His tenure was a significant milestone in expanding Medicaid coverage, lowering the state uninsured rate, and navigating fiscal changes. He also championed comprehensive criminal justice reform," Moss stated.
Joining Edwards in the 2024 class were seven distinguished individuals. Among them were talk radio host Jim Engster, renowned for his show "Louisiana Live," former state representative Joe Delpit, and former state senator Louis Lambert. Additionally, the class included the late former newspaper reporter Ed Anderson, who covered Lambert during his 1979 gubernatorial campaign.
Also inducted were former Louisiana Chemical Association President Dan Borné, who covered the Capitol for two years for WAFB-TV and served three different senators in Washington, and Richard Lipsey, founder of Lipsey’s, a sporting goods and firearms distributor, who supported Edwards' reelection bid in 2019.
The Louisiana Political Hall of Fame, based in Winnfield, home to Huey and Earl Long, now numbers 243 with the latest inductees.